Compartment drawing board



June 4, 1940:.

COMPARTMENT DRAWING BOARD Filed April 11, 193B 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J., L. STENQUIST Q 2,203,474

June 1940- J. 1.. sTEN wsT 2,203,474

COMPARTMENT DRAWING BOARD Filed April 11. 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 UNITED STATES PAT OFFICE ily! Patented June 4, 1940 2,203,474 COMPARTMENT DRAWING BOARD John L. Stenquist, Baltimore, Md. Application April 1, 1938, Serial No. 201,249

, The invention relates toa combined drawing or writing board, paper holder, and compartment for instruments, paper and, the like, one form of the invention being adapted to have draw,- ing instruments, such as triangles, squares, etc. attached to, one side of the drawing board proper ,orcover which is invertedto close, the compartment with the instruments inside thecompart- ,meht. This type is also adapted for use as a drawing or writing board, one side of the board being available for this purpose independently of the instruments which are thenenclosed inside the board, and it hasfthe further advantage that the board is reversible sothat it can be used on either side, as, when oneside becomes damaged by indentations and the like in,- cident to long use, accidents or mis-use,

It is an important advantage that the paper holder, or clamp is automatically operated as the compartment is closed, the board acting as a cover. i

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated a preferred and a modified form of theinvention including a reversible and non-reversibleboard and various forms of paper and hinge clamp. W

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective: view of the compartwFig. 3 is a section on the line 3,3 in Fig. 1.,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view looking at the top of the compartment the board or cover being removed; i -Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form jof board and compartment,- fully assembled, ready for use with a T'-square triangle, and paper, the latter being clamped in position there- On, i l

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section, one line 6, 6 in Fig. 5 showing the board rocked to partially open position.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view looking from the left in Fig. 5 showing the compartment closed, with thepaper clamped in position for work- Fig, 8 is a section on the line 8, 8 in Fig. 5 showing the compartment closed and illustrating the latch, the view. being of a fragmentary nature for convenience of illustration.

Fig: 9 is a rear view looking at thepaper clampfrom the outside. i A Fig: 10 is a perspective view corresponding to Fig.5 showing the compartment. closed by the boardl'which is mainly brokencaway for conuvenience of illustration; but shown fragmentar- Fig. 11 isafragmentaryptop plan of the asseinblediboard and compartment Fig. 2 showing the latch in brokenlines.

Fig. 12 is a section corresponding to showing a modified form.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, each of which is used to indicate the same, or similar parts, in the difierent figures and having particular reference to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, the

may be of fibre, or plywood, or any suitable material, being preferably laminated to avoid warping.

The compartment 2 is in the form of a shallow box having four side walls of short vertical di- ,mension, the side wallsbeing indicated by reference characters 3, 4, 5 and E. In the closed posibox, I, rests directly on these side walls, being positioned and held by upright edge portionsB 5 at the two ends and means at the front respectively, the rear beingin the form shown, closed by the clamping member 9, to be further described. I i

At the front, preferably at the centre, there tion, the drawing board proper or cover to said is a latch H], which in this form, is of U-shape in cross section, and pivoted at H to swing. outwardly. Inclosed position it is adapted to take over the bottom of the box and the top of the ,board. The raised edge portions, 8, are of just suificient height to accommodate the thickness of the drawing board so that it lies flush with the top of these edge portions in closed position.

The hinge and paper clamp 9 is of particular importance. It may be, referred to broadly as a hook spring or clamp, and in the preferred form shown, it may be further described as of Z- shaped crosssection, the Z-shape being desirable, but not essential to the operation of the invention in all its conceivable modifications. The hinge and paper clamp 9 is illustrated in section in Figs. 3 and 4, and also in Figs. 6, 7, and 12, in a modified form. As shownin Figs. 3 and 4, it is an elongated plate extending substantially across the rear of the compartment,

though its extension across the entire length of the box is not essential to all uses of the invention. l i 3 i As suggested, the form shown in Figs. "3 and 4 and also in Figs. 6 and 7, is of Z-shaped cross section, and in Figs. 3 and 4, etc, the bottom leg of the Z at His secured to the floor l5 of the box tact. vTo secure a sheet of paper Min-writing. or drawing position, the rear .edge of the paper wood 2| extending the length of the rear side of the board or box by which the hook clamp is concealed. The moulding 21 is shown as overlying the top of the rear edge portion of the floor I5, and secured thereto. caused to protrude beyond the compartment proper 2 for this purpose is indicated.

,In use, the board is attached to the compartment as a cover for the same, and in drawing or writing position, has its rear edge 24inserted into the hook 2E}. The forward edge 25 of the arm or plate i9 is deflected downwardly toward the bottom of the box to give a paper clamping conis'inserted withthe board. I, and on top of the same, into. the hook 29 beneath the depending edge 25;. the board, for this purpose, being inclined with its front edge '28 elevated. As the board is rockedbringing the forward edge down- 1 wardly into the closed positionof the board with the top surface level with the top of the edge por' tions 8, the rear edge. of the board is forced up ,wardly against the edge 25 of the hook, clamping the paper between the board and the edge of the .hook. Theboard being then fastened by the A is the front and and 36 at the sides.

clip, or fastening ID, the board, compartment and paper are thus assembled ready for use for writing. or drawing.

It will be. easily apparent that with this type of construction, various drawing .instruments 'adaptedlto be'attached to the board in accordance withthe existing practice, may be fastened to one surface of the board, and when this surface is'turned in and the compartment is closed,

the" instruments arethuspacked within. the compartment and protectedfor carrying, or other transportation. 'It will also be understood that papers, and other work, pencils, etc., essential tothe use of the board and other drawing instrurhents not attached to the board, may be conveniently enclosed within the compartment, and

that the entireweight and-thickness of the board and compartment, as thus closed, is less than those of the ordinary wooden, drawing board in general use.

In Figs. 5 to l1,'I have illustrated a modified form of the compartment drawing board. This comprises a board, or cover having a drawing surface, indicated by reference character 3| and corresponding to theboard or cover' I in the construction 'previo'usly'described. This cooperates with the compartment member 32, which corresponds to the compartment member 2 in "Figs. 1 to 4. This oompartment'member is shown "previous construction, though, as shown, it is secured by crimping the lower rear edge at an about the rear edge of the floor, or bottom Wall, 31.

j. 'In, this form of the. invention, the board or c'over gil is provided ,on its under side with a fdownwardly projecting rim 4|, which extends around 3 sides ofthe board, being omitted at the rear edge 32 of the cover 3!, which enters and cooperates with the paper clamp 39 substantially in the-manner already described in connection with thehinge and paper clamp 9 of the con-'- struction described in connection with Figs. 1

to 4; In this in'stance,-however, the rear ends of The floor. being I the end walls 35 and 36 of the box, Or compartment 32, extend beyondthe rear wall 33 overlying the extension 38 and are of a reducing taper rearwardly, the top surfaces of these walls at 43 being downwardly inclined toward the rear as best shown in Fig. 10, and the rim 4| of the board proper is similarly and oppositely inclined at the rear ends of this trim, which as already pointed out, is .U-shaped, extending around 3 sides of the board, i. e. the front and the two end edges 44 and s 45. The incline, which is upward to the rear, is best illustrated at 46 in Fig. 7.

The projecting rim 4| of the board in the assembled position of the complete board and in the closed position of the compartment takes over and enclosesv the front and end side walls 34, 35 and 36 of the box, or compartment memher-'32 resting on the protruding edges 38 of floor 31.

To assemble the board and close the compartment, the rear edge 42 of the cover 3| is advanced into hook'41 of the clamp '39; the inclined surfaces 46 resting onthe top of the projecting portion 39 of the floor'31 of the box, of compartment, which, incidentally, projects outwardly beyond the walls 34, 35,and 39, and the inclined surface 43 of the side walls 35 and 36 at their rear ends, engaging the bottom surface 48 of the board 3| near the rear and outside of the depending rim 4|, particularly the inclined portions 46 thereof. These inclines provide for the convenient rocking of the rear portion of the board.

on the rear portion of the box, whereby the rear edge 42 of the board, the bottom surface of which at 48 also restson the top of the rear wall43 of the box, swings upwardly against the depend ing edge 50 of the hook 41, and a sheet of paper '5! placed on the board in working position is thus securely clamped to the rear edge portion of the board and held with its edges parallel with the corresponding edges of the board, assuming that the paper is rectangular and the board is likewise rectangular, and that the paper is thrust backwardly against the rear inside upright surface 52 of the hook 41' which serves toposition the paper with its edges parallel to the edges of the board as alreadydescribed.

Any suitable fastening may be provided to cooperate with the clamp 39 to holethe compartment, and the board or cover and compartment in assembled relation with the compartment closed. Such a fastening is illustrated at 53 in broken lines in Fig. -11. The fastening shown cooperates with a slot =54in the front wall 34 of the box and a slot 55 in'the rim 4| at the front being pivoted at 56 in the latter by means of a pin 51'. The latch 53, as shown, consists of a plate 58, having a frontflange 59 at right angles thereto, which flange projects and is turned forwardly at 60 forming a finger-hold. As already pointed out, any suitable'latch may be substituted for the latch 53, as the latch II] in Fig. .4. An

has the advantage that it is reversible, and also that the drawing instrumentsmay be attached to one side of the board and befaced upwardly for use, or the board maybe reversed to enclose the instruments in the compartment.

In *Fig. 12 'I have shown a clamp or fastening 10 which correspondsto thenclamps 9 and. 39

differing therefrom in that the bottom arm H is turned at the rear at 12 and continued forwardly at 13 extending forwardly of the Z-bend 15 at ,14, the bend 12 is also extended rearwardly of the hook 16. The rear bend 12 is secured under a rear strip ll corresponding to strip 2| and the end 74 is secured beneath the rear wall of the compartment at 18. This gives an additional resiliency due to the extra turn of the spring and a convenient and secure method of installation.

The manner of clamping the paper, in both instances, is similar, being due to the rocking of the board around the rear edge of the box, or compartment, as it is brought to horizontal position in closing the compartment; thus, a considerable leverage is exerted and the pressure applied to the paper is only limited by the tension of the spring which may be determined to suit the fastening pressure desired. In each instance,

the board is positioned by the edges of the box. In the first form, however, it fits inside the extreme top edges of the box and in the second form it is provided with a rim which preferably encloses the sides of the box. In either instance, the board or cover I, 3| is accurately positioned as to all four edges and it will be noted that the board may be either flush with the sides of the box, as illustrated in Figs. 1 to, 4, or may project beyond these sides as illustrated inFigs. 5 to 11. The board or cover may be made of fibre board, plywood or any suitablematerial, and the construction has the advantage not only that it pro.

vides an easy, quick and accurate positioning and clamping of the paper, but in that it provides a board having all the rigidity of a solid board, and

. with a compartment amply suflicient for the work and instrument within the board without increase of thickness or weight.

, I have thus described a preferred and modified form of my invention, the description being specificand in detail in order that the manner of constructing, applying and using the invention may be fully understood; however, the

specific terms herein are used descriptively rather than in a limiting sense, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by 3 Letters Patent is:

1. A compartment drawing board of substantially the thickness of an ordinary soliddrawing board, the same comprising a shallow box and a cover having a drawing surface, a spring clamp at the rear of the box adapted to yieldably depress the rearedge of the cover, the compartment having means for engaging the rear edge of the cover and clamping the edge of the paper thereon, and to be closed by rocking into engage ment with the top of. the box to close the same the box having a rear wall forwardly of said spring clamp on which the rear portion of the cover rests and about which it is rocked, and

fastening means for the. board at the front of the box.

2. A compartment drawing board of substan and encompass the rear edge of the cover and to clamp the edge of the paper thereon, the spring being adaptable to yieldably depressing the edge of the cover and the covering. being adapted to be closed by rocking it into engagement with thetop of the box to close the same, a support at the rear of the box, about which the cover rocks in engagement with said spring and i fastening means for the board at the front of the box.

3. A compartment drawing board comprising a shallow box of drawing board dimensions anda cover there for having two plane fiat unobstructed surfaces each of said surfaces being adapted for use as apaper support for drawing or writing means at one edge of the box for fastening the corresponding edge of the cover to the box and the paper there on in drawing or writing position simultaneously with the closing of the cover and means at the opposite edge of box for fastening the opposite edge of the cover to the box, the cover whenunfastened being free of the box and adapted to be removed and reversed and replaced in reversed position so either surface can be used for drawing or writing.

4. A compartment drawing board comprising a shallow box and a cover, the latter providing a paper supporting surface adapted for use in drawing, the box being of substantially the dimensions of a solid drawing board and the cover being relatively thin, a spring hook clamp at one edge of the box having the hook opening disposed inwardly towarcl the center of the box and wider than the thickness .of the covering and the hook having a depending edge to engage the cover or paper thereon means for supporting the edge portion of the cover adjacent the hook but spaced therefrom providing for rocking the cover to a closed position about said latter means whereby the edge portion of the cover is pressed againstsaid depending edge as it is closed and additional means for fastening the portions of the cover remote from the hook. 5. In an article of the character described side wall members, a substantially rigid movable top cover member adapted to support a sheet of paper on the outer surface thereof, a spring cla'mplocated along one edge of said box for contacting the outer surface of the said top cover when the said cover is normally closed upon the said box for holding one edge of said paper,

means associated with the said box for supporting the said cover inwardly from the edge to be contacted by said clamp, whereby the'said cover may be pivoted upon said support for engaging and disengaging the said cover with the said clamp and meansfor securing an edge of the cover remotefrom said clamp to the box.

6. In an article of the character described cornprising, a shallow box having a bottom and side wall members, a substantially rigid movabletop cover member adapted to support a sheet of paper on the outer surface thereof, a spring clamp at one edge of said cover for contacting the outer surfaceof said top cover when the cover is held normally closed upon said box for holding one edge of the said paper sheet means comprising, a shallow box having a bottom and rockably supporting the cover adjacent said edge whereby said clamp is automatically opened and closed as the cover is raised and lowered and means for fastening thesaid' cover in closed 

